Located along the shores of Dubai’s iconic Creek the development of Al Seef is an exciting new cultural tourism space that merges the city’s past with its present. 

Godwin Austen Johnson was responsible for the design of the overall master plan, along with the design and construction supervision of the eastern section (phases 2 and 3) which follows a more traditional style.

For this unique project it was essential that we first appreciated the extent and requirement of preserving and showcasing traditional Emirati architecture and local trades. The challenge was to design the buildings as if they had always been there withstanding the test of time through aging techniques and carefully calculated degradation percentages. Water marks, caulking and bulges in the edges all contribute to achieve this. 

The eastern section includes a number of heritage style cluster buildings recreating the memory of old Dubai along the banks of the Dubai Creek and extending the existing historical district of Bastakiya.  

The result is a beautifully transformed area that brings to life an important era in Dubai’s fascinating history providing an authentic heritage experience and a stunning leisure, retail and dining location.